45 Indicted in Major DEA-Led Investigations of Drug Trafficking Operations at San Juan International Airport

San Juan, PR – On May 31, a
federal grand jury indicted 25 individuals as a result of an investigation lead
by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Puerto Rico Police Department
(PRPD), and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, announced today United
States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.

The defendants are charged in a 16 count
indictment with violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations Act (RICO) and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
cocaine.

The defendants were members and
associates of a criminal organization whose members and associates engaged in
narcotics distribution and criminal acts principally out of the Luis Muñoz
Marin International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico.The leader of the organization is Maribel
Rodríguez-Fragoso, aka “La Flaca.”

The indictment alleges that in or around
2010 until May 2012, members of the enterprise and their associates carried
kilograms of cocaine in backpack/bags, or hidden on their person, or driving
official work vehicles into the Airport through the employees secured
entrance.Once in the secured area, they
would transfer the kilograms of cocaine to couriers inside of a designated
restroom, who would then board flights departing to the continental United
States.

It is further alleged that members of
the enterprise transported large sums of drug proceeds in the form of U.S.
currency from the continental United States to Puerto Rico.Some of the drug proceeds were used to
purchase items, such as vehicles, which were regularly used to further the
enterprise.

DEA Deputy Administrator Thomas M.
Harrigan today said, “Americans have a right to expect the highest integrity
from those they entrust with their safety, and DEA is committed to protecting
that trust.Today’s arrests at one of
the nation’s busiest airports reflect our relentless commitment to working with
our partners to aggressively fight drug trafficking, not only at our nation’s
points of entry, but at source, transit, and arrival zones throughout the
world.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant
United States Attorneys Brian Kidd, Sean Torriente and Justin Martin from the
Organized Crime and Racketeering Section.This unit operates under the Narcotics Unit, and it is supervised by the
Chief of the Narcotics Unit, AUSA Timothy Henwood.This unit is yet another component of our new
initiative against violent crime and illegal firearms.

A second indictment unsealed today
charges 20 individuals for aiding and abetting each other, and conspiracy to
possess with intent to distribute in excess of 9000 kilograms of cocaine,
aboard American Airlines commercial aircrafts. At times pertinent to this
indictment, convict Wilfredo Rodríguez-Rosado, aka “Mogoyo” recruited and
organized a group of individuals to package, transport and deliver suitcases loaded
with kilograms of cocaine to the American Airlines cargo area at the Luis Muñoz
Marin International Airport. Moreover, he recruited and organized a group of
American Airlines employees to ensure that those suitcases were smuggled into
American Airlines aircrafts destined to Miami and Orlando, Florida and Newark,
NJ.

The case was investigated by the DEA,
the PRPD, and the FBI, with the collaboration of the San Juan Municipal Police,
and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Olga Castellón, Mariana
Bauzá and Maritza González.

“The defendants in this investigation
not only utilized their positions and security access to smuggle large
quantities of illegal narcotics, but they also compromised the safety and
security at one of the Caribbean’s most vital airports,” said Acting Special
Agent in Charge of the Caribbean Division, Pedro Janer.“DEA will continue to dismantle these
organizations that think they can blatantly use legitimate entities to carry out
their smuggling operations.”

“The United States Attorney’s Office,
along with our state and federal law enforcement counterparts, will continue
investigating and prosecuting drug trafficking organizations which use our
island as a trans-shipment point for drugs to the U.S. mainland. The use of
commercial aircraft to smuggle narcotics in and out of Puerto Rico, also
creates a serious threat to our national security,” said Rosa Emilia
Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

The defendants in both cases are facing
a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years up to life.Criminal indictments are only charges and not
evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless
proven guilty.

The DEA Caribbean Division would also
like to extend its gratitude to the DEA Divisions in New York, Miami, Newark
and Dallas for their incredible support and assistance.